Nehemiah 4

Nehemiah 4
	← chapter 3 chapter 5 →
	Book of Nehemiah in the Roman (Sixtine) Septuagint (1587).
Book	Book of Nehemiah
Category	Ketuvim
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	16

Nehemiah 4 is the fourth chapter of the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible,[1] or the 14th chapter of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, which treats the book of Ezra and book of Nehemiah as one book.[2] Jewish tradition states that Ezra is the author of Ezra-Nehemiah as well as the Book of Chronicles,[3] but modern scholars generally accept that a compiler from 5th century BCE (so-called "the Chronicler") is the final author of these books.[4] This chapter recounts how the Jews had to militarize the wall building due to the constant threat from their enemies.[5]

Text

The original text of this chapter is in Hebrew language. In English bibles, this chapter is divided into 23 verses, but in Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:33-38, and 4:7-23 is numbered 4:1-17.[6]

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes Codex Leningradensis (1008).[7][lower-alpha 1]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\mathfrak {G}}$ ^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\mathfrak {G}}$ ^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\mathfrak {G}}$ ^A; 5th century).[9]

Derision (4:1–3)

When the restoration of the Jerusalem walls was advanced, Sanballat and his allies increased their attack.[10]

Verse 1

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.[11]

On discovering 'the systematic design of refortifying Jerusalem', the Samaritan faction represented by Sanballat showed their bitter animosity to the Jews and in heaping scoffs and insults, as well as all sorts of disparaging words, their feelings of hatred and contempt increased.[12]

Nehemiah's response to the attack (4:4–6)

Refusing to engage in a war of words or retaliatory actions, Nehemiah prayed to God, then went to work.[13]

Verse 6

’’So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.[14]

"All the wall was joined together unto the half thereof": that is, 'the whole continuous line of wall was completed to half the contemplated height'.[15]

Obstacles (4:7-23)

Militarizing the wall building. Illustration of Book of Nehemiah Chapter 4. Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett

Ready to face the enemies. Illustration of Book of Nehemiah Chapter 4. Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett

With each step forward, Nehemiah faced obstacles to complete the wall, but he persevered with prayer and hard work.[13] In this section he described the plot (verses 7–9), discouragement (10), threats and rumors (11–12) against him, but then he found his resolve (13–15) and executed his contigency plans (16–23).[13]

Verses 7–8

⁷ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

⁸ And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.[16]

The Jews were completely encircled by the enemies: the Samaritans (Sanballat) in the north, the Ammonites (Tobiah) in the east, the Arabians (Geshem) in the south, and the Ashdodites in the east.[17]

Notes

Since 1947 the current text of Aleppo Codex is missing the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah.[8]

References

Halley 1965, p. 236.
Grabbe 2003, p. 313.
Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 15a, apud Fensham 1982, p. 2
Fensham 1982, pp. 2–4.
Smith-Christopher 2007, p. 319.
Note [a] on Nehemiah 4:1 in NIV
Würthwein 1995, pp. 36-37.
P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362
Würthwein 1995, pp. 73-74.
Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 169-170.
Nehemiah 4:1 KJV or Nehemiah 3:33 Hebrew Bible
Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, Andrew Robert; Brown, David. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary On the Whole Bible, "Nehemiah 4". 1871.
Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 171.
Nehemiah 4:6 KJV or Nehemiah 3:38 Hebrew Bible
Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). On "Nehemiah 4". In: The Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019.
Nehemiah 4:7–8 KJV or Nehemiah 4:1–2 Hebrew Bible
McConville 1985, p. 91.

Sources

Fensham, F. Charles (1982). The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. New international commentary on the Old Testament (illustrated ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0802825278. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Grabbe, Lester L. (2003). "Nehemiah". In Dunn, James D. G.; Rogerson, John William (eds.). Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible (illustrated ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 320–328. ISBN 978-0802837110. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Halley, Henry H. (1965). Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary (24th (revised) ed.). Zondervan Publishing House. ISBN 0-310-25720-4.
Larson, Knute; Dahlen, Kathy; Anders, Max E. (2005). Anders, Max E. (ed.). Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Holman Old Testament commentary. Volume 9 (illustrated ed.). B&H Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0805494693. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Levering, Matthew (2007). Ezra & Nehemiah. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Brazos Press. ISBN 978-1587431616. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
McConville, J. G. (1985). Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The daily study Bible : Old Testament. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0664245832. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
Smith-Christopher, Daniel L. (2007). "15. Ezra-Nehemiah". In Barton, John; Muddiman, John (eds.). The Oxford Bible Commentary (first (paperback) ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 308–324. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
Würthwein, Ernst (1995). The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

External links

Jewish translations:
- Nechemiah - Nehemiah - Chapter 4 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
Christian translations:
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- Book of Nehemiah Chapter 4. Bible Gateway

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[9] Since 1947 the current text of Aleppo Codex is missing the whole book of Ezra-Nehemiah.[8]

[FOOTNOTEHalley1965236-1] Halley 1965, p. 236.

[FOOTNOTEGrabbe2003313-2] Grabbe 2003, p. 313.

[3] Babylonian Talmud Baba Bathra 15a, apud Fensham 1982, p. 2

[FOOTNOTEFensham19822–4-4] Fensham 1982, pp. 2–4.

[FOOTNOTESmith-Christopher2007319-5] Smith-Christopher 2007, p. 319.

[6] Note [a] on Nehemiah 4:1 in NIV

[FOOTNOTEWürthwein199536-37-7] Würthwein 1995, pp. 36-37.

[8] P. W. Skehan (2003), "BIBLE (TEXTS)", New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2 (2nd ed.), Gale, pp. 355–362

[FOOTNOTEWürthwein199573-74-10] Würthwein 1995, pp. 73-74.

[FOOTNOTELarsonDahlenAnders2005169-170-11] Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 169-170.

[12] Nehemiah 4:1 KJV or Nehemiah 3:33 Hebrew Bible

[jfb-13] Jamieson, Robert; Fausset, Andrew Robert; Brown, David. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary On the Whole Bible, "Nehemiah 4". 1871.

[FOOTNOTELarsonDahlenAnders2005171-14] Larson, Dahlen & Anders 2005, pp. 171.

[15] Nehemiah 4:6 KJV or Nehemiah 3:38 Hebrew Bible

[pulpit-16] Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). On "Nehemiah 4". In: The Pulpit Commentary. 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019.

[17] Nehemiah 4:7–8 KJV or Nehemiah 4:1–2 Hebrew Bible

[FOOTNOTEMcConville198591-18] McConville 1985, p. 91.